Ranunculus plant named &#39;ABUMACATLO&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Ranunculus  cultivar named ‘ABUMACATLO’ is disclosed, characterized by vibrant yellow, extra double flowers. Plants produce an above average quantity of flowers of high quality throughout the flowering season. Flower size produced remains large throughout the flowering season. The new variety is a  Ranunculus , normally produced as a cut flower and potentially useful as an ornamental plant.

Latin name of the genus and species: Ranunculus asiaticus.

Variety denomination: ‘ABUMACATLO’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new Ranunculus cultivar is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the inventor, Alberto Biancheri in Camporosso Mare, Italy. The cross resulting in this new variety was made during 2008.

The seed parent is the, unpatented, proprietary variety referred to as Ranunculus ‘G73-00/A’. The pollen parent is the unpatented, proprietary variety referred to as Ranunculus ‘G141/1’. The new variety was discovered in 2012 by the inventor in a group of seedlings resulting from the 2008 crossing, in a research greenhouse in Camporosso Mare, Italy.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar was first performed by vegetative division of buds sprouting from the rhizome of the selected plant. Subsequent propagation has been performed by tissue culture. First propagation took place at a research greenhouse in Camporosso Mare, Italy in 2012 and has shown that the unique features of this cultivar are stable and reproduced true to type in multiple successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘ABUMACATLO’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, day length, and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘ABUMACATLO’ These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘ABUMACATLO’ as a new and distinct Ranunculus cultivar:

-   -   1. Vibrant yellow flower color.     -   2. Large corolla produced throughout flowering season.     -   3. Extra double flower.     -   4. Above average quantity and quality of flower stems produced         during the flowering season. PARENT COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘ABUMACATLO’ are similar to plants of the seed parent, in most horticultural characteristics, however, plants of the new cultivar ‘ABUMACATLO’ differ in the following;

-   -   1. Flower shape of the new variety is different.     -   2. Flower size of the new variety is larger.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘ABUMACATLO’ are similar to plants of the pollen parent, in most horticultural characteristics, however, plants of the new cultivar ‘ABUMACATLO’ differ in the following;

-   -   1. Flower shape of the new variety is different.     -   2. Flower size of the new variety is smaller. COMMERCIAL         COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘ABUMACATLO’ are comparable to the unpatented commercial variety Ranunculus ‘ABCREAM’. The two Ranunculus varieties are similar in most horticultural characteristics; however, the new variety ‘ABUMACATLO’ differs in the following:

-   -   1. Andro-petaloidia quantity is higher in the new variety.     -   2. Floral size of the new variety is smaller.     -   3. Floral color of the new variety is much deeper and brighter         yellow.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates in full color flowering plants of the new variety at approximately five months old, grown in a greenhouse.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close up of plant parts. The photographs were taken using conventional techniques and although colors may appear different from actual colors due to light reflectance it is as accurate as possible by conventional photographic techniques.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart 6^(th) edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observations and measurements describe ‘ABUMACATLO’ plants grown in a greenhouse Camporosso Mare, Italy. The plant described has been cultivated under glass, planted in the months of September and described in the month of February. One must always refer to these conditions of season and culture, when considering the present description. By reason of different climate or culture conditions, differences may arise between certain characteristics of the plant and the corresponding characteristics of the description. It should be considered as normal and do not modify the essence of the present invention because it will possible to identify the plant by means of the totality of the characteristics given in the description. The rhizome has been planted on raised benches in a peat and pumice substrate mixture. The growing temperature ranged from 12° C. to 25° C. during the day and from 2° C. to 8° C. during the night. General light conditions are bright, normal sunlight. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical plant types.

-   Botanical classification: Ranunculus asiaticus ‘ABUMACATLO’ -   Propagation:     -   -   Time to rooting.—15 days at approximately 10-12° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted plantlet.—20 days.         -   Root description.—Secondary roots grow from the rhizome and             are fasciculate type. -   Plant:     -   -   Growth habit.—Herbaceous perennial, robust plant, erect             vegetation.         -   Height to top flower.—55 to 60 cm.         -   Plant spread.—30 to 40 cm.         -   Growth rate.—Medium.         -   Branching characteristics.—Main floral stems grow from a             basal rosette with 1 or 2 lateral branches, each one of             which has a flower.         -   Length of lateral branches.—50 to 55 cm.         -   Diameter of lateral branches.—0.6 to 0.8 cm.         -   Texture of lateral branches.—Slightly tomentose.         -   Internode length.—Internodes are extremely close together,             forming a basal rosette.         -   Strength of lateral branches.—Medium.         -   Color of lateral branches.—Yellow Green (RHS 145A).         -   Aspect to angle of branches.—15° to 20°.         -   Number of leaves per lateral branch.—Usually 2. -   Foliage: The leaves, usually numerous, have a marked heterophyllia,     in relation to the degree of their development and their position on     the plant (base of the plant; floral stem).     -   -   Leaf at the base of the plant.—Arrangement: Simple (young             leaf, YL); Bitemate (mature leaf, ML). Average Length: 22.0             to 32.0 cm. Average Width: 16.0 to 20.0 cm. Overall Shape of             blade: Obovate (young leaf); Palmatipartite (mature leaf).             Dissected leaves, describe lobes, quantity of dissection:             Young leaves are generally not lobed; mature leaves are             generally divided in 3 parts, each one of which further             divided in 3 or more lobes. Apex: Acute. Base: Rounded.             Attachment: Base of the plant. Margin: Dentate (mature             leaf). Texture of top surface: Slightly tomentose,             verrucose. Texture of bottom surface: Slightly tomentose,             verrucose. Appearance of top surface: Matte. Appearance             bottom surface: Glossy. Leaf internode length: The             internodes are extremely close together, forming a basal             rosette. Color: Young foliage upper side: Green (RHS 138A).             Young foliage under side: Yellow Green (RHS 148C). Mature             foliage upper side: Green (RHS 138A). Mature foliage under             side: Yellow Green (RHS 148C). Venation: Type: Dichotomous;             plunging in to the limb at the upper surface; raised on the             limb at the lower surface. Venation color upper side: Yellow             Green (RHS 145A). Venation color under side: Yellow Green             (RHS 145A). Petiole: Petiole: Long, tubular, rigid. Length:             13 to 22 cm. Diameter: 0.5 to 0.8 cm. Pubescence: Slightly             tomentose. Color: Yellow Green (RHS 145A).         -   Leaf inserted at the nodes of the floral stems             (SL).—Arrangement: Biternate. Average Length: 16 to 22 cm.             Average Width: 12 to 18 cm. Overall Shape of blade:             Palmatipartite. Dissected leaves, describe lobes, quantity             of dissection: Generally divided in 3 parts, each one of             which is further divided in many lobes. Apex: Acute. Base:             Acute. Attachment: Floral stems. Margin: Dentate. Texture of             top surface: Slightly tomentose. Texture of bottom surface:             Slightly tomentose. Appearance of top surface.' Matte.             Appearance bottom surface: Glossy. Leaf internode length: 7             to 14 cm. Color: foliage upper side: Green (RHS 137B).             foliage under side: Green (RHS 138B). Venation: Type:             Longitudinal, plunging in to the limb at the upper surface             and raised on the limb at the lower surface. Venation color             upper side: Yellow Green (RHS 145A). Venation color under             side: Yellow Green (RHS 145A). Petiole: Petiole: Long,             slightly flat, rigid. Length: 8 to 15 cm. Diameter: 0.4 to             0.6 cm. Pubescence: Slightly tomentose. Color: Yellow Green             (RHS 145A). -   Flower:     -   -   Bloom period.—Winter to Spring.         -   Vase life (cut flower).—10 to 15 days.         -   Persistent or self-cleaning.—Self-Cleaning.         -   Bud.—Closed bud (CB): Shape: Flattened globular, with a             sharp point. Length: 1.2 to 2.3 cm. Diameter: 1 to 2 cm.             Color: Yellow Green (RHS 144A). Slightly open bud (OB):             Shape: Flattened globular. Length: 1.9 to 2.1 cm. Diameter:             2.0 to 2.3 cm. Color: Yellow Green (RHS N144B).         -   Flower size (OF).—Diameter: 8 to 10 cm. Height: 2.5 to 4.5             cm.         -   Corolla (OF).—Round, regular, in the form of a flat section.             Petals: Arrangement: Imbricated, disposed on the receptacle             in very tight verticils. The size of the petals is quite             variable, according to the position in the corolla,             decreasing from the exterior toward the center. The average             size of fully developed petal is as follows: Lobe Length:             3.8 to 4.8 cm. Lobe Width: 4.6 to 5.2 cm. Quantity: Double             flower, petals are very numerous (>100). Texture: Silky,             thin, resistant. Lobe Apex: Acute. Lobe shape: Obovate.             Margin: Entire or slightly Crenate. Aspect: Fan shape,             concave, moderately reflexed when flower is fully opened.             Color when opening (CF): Upper surface: Yellow (RHS 12A).             Lower surface: Yellow (RHS 12A). Color Fully opened (OF):             Upper surface (PU): Yellow (RHS 13A). Lower surface (PL):             Yellow (RHS 13A).         -   Calyx to sepals (S).—Quantity per flower: 6 to 8. Shape:             Concave, moderately incurved. Length: 2.2 to 2.6 cm. Width:             0.8 to 1.8 cm. Apex: Acute. Base: Flat to Slightly rounded.             Margin: Entire. Texture: Lower surface is tomentose; Upper             surface is glabrous. Color Upper Surface: Yellow Green (RHS             144A and N144A). Color Lower Surface: Yellow Green (RHS             144A).         -   Peduncle.—None.         -   Pedicel.—Length: 50 to 55 cm. Diameter: 1.0 to 1.2 cm.             Color: Yellow Green (RHS 145A). Orientation: Upright,             straight, rigid. Pubescence: Slightly tomentose.         -   Fragrance.—None. -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Androecium.—Stamens: Almost completely transformed as             petals.         -   Gynoecium.—The carpels are completely transformed in Yellow             Green (RHS 144B) petals, which together form a nearly             circular structure in the center of the corolla. -   Other characteristics:     -   -   Seeds and fruits.—Seeds and fruit production not observed.         -   Disease and pest resistance.—Neither resistance nor             susceptibility to normal diseases and pests of Ranunculus             has been observed.         -   Temperature tolerance.—Upper and lower temperature tolerance             not observed, plants have been grown in a climate controlled             greenhouse. Ranunculus asiaticus typically tolerates             temperatures within USDA Zones 7 to 11. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Ranunculus plant named ‘ABUMACATLO’ as herein illustrated and described. 